SMDI Sponsors Texas Auto Writer Association’s Texas Truck Rodeo

AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 14, 2018 – For the fifth consecutive year, the Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI), a business unit of the American Iron and Steel Institute, is the title sponsor of the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) Texas Truck Rodeo. The event takes place Oct. 14 -16 at the Longhorn River Ranch in Dripping Springs, Texas.

"We are once again proud to be working with SMDI as the title sponsor of the Texas Auto Writers Association’s Texas Truck Rodeo,” said Michael Marrs, president, TAWA. “Thanks to support from organizations like SMDI, we are able to enhance our drive events and provide our members with additional resources to educate them on the relevance of the steel industry in the automotive world.”

The Truck Rodeo is an annual event bringing journalists from Texas and the U.S. to evaluate the nation’s top trucks and SUVs. Writers recognize excellence in several categories, including selecting the year’s coveted “Truck of Texas.”

“Trucks, SUVs and CUVs have always performed well in Texas, so this event is the perfect place to demonstrate the benefits of high-strength steel vehicles,” said Jody N. Hall, vice president, automotive market, SMDI. “We can’t think of a better venue than the Truck Rodeo to showcase the enhanced strength and performance of steel-intensive vehicles. As third-generation advanced high-strength steels are introduced commercially, the industry will see even more capability from these vehicles.”

Follow along with the activities going on at the TAWA Truck Rodeo by checking out SMDI’s social media channels @DriveUsingSteel on Twitter and Instagram and Steel Market Development Institute on Facebook.

For more than three decades, TAWA has promoted professionalism and quality in automotive journalism. TAWA produces two annual events that have gained national traction: the Texas Truck Rodeo and the Texas Auto Roundup. Both events give TAWA’s journalists the opportunity to evaluate vehicles back-to-back on the street, track or off-road. Manufacturers and dealerships promote the award winners and the “Truck of Texas” is touted in national television commercials, including appearing in previous Super Bowl commercials.

TAWA awards scholarships to Texas college and university students with a journalism major each year. The nonprofit’s annual Excellence in Craft Competition also recognizes exceptional coverage of the automotive industry by its members annually.

AISI serves as the voice of the North American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace. AISI also plays a lead role in the development and application of new steels and steelmaking technology. AISI is comprised of 21 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and approximately 120 associate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry.

The Steel Market Development Institute, a business unit of AISI, increases and defends the use of steel by developing innovative materials, applications and value-added solutions for customers in the automotive, construction and packaging markets. SMDI automotive investors include: AK Steel Corporation, Algoma, ArcelorMittal and Nucor Corporation. For more information on SMDI auto, visit www.autosteel.org or follow @SMDISteel on Twitter.